My new (used) XP left some files at about 20G from the beginning of the disk with lots of empty space preceding it (them). It wasn't a problem as it left ample to install VL6.

I tried the same on a Compaq Presario 700Mobile AMD Duron 996MHz, 37.2GB HD 24.1 free. Unfortunately, these are now at the end of the disk. Might there be some way of getting these files to the beginning of the disk?

I suppose I could wipe XP and install Win98 and hope it works! (I need Excel because OO won't handle one file correctly)

A couple of scenarios come to mind. - Clone your windows partition, delete and then restore it. That should put the files towards the beginning. - Run an instance of XP in virtualbox. Takes lots of space and resources.- MS Office is well supported in wine. This would probably be your most efficient way.